Cytoskeletal Proteins in Tetrahymena

拟议研究的长期目标是更多地了解真核细胞中与细胞膜相关的细胞骨架成分，特别是发现这些结构内和与之相关的区域分化的分子基础。基本的方法将是研究四种特定的多肽，它们被确定为纤毛虫原生动物四膜虫膜骨架中的核心蛋白。虽然这些蛋白质在全球范围内分布，但它们在口腔器官中集中并高度图案化。这四种多肽已经被提纯，并将通过抗体、肽图谱、体外组装和微测序进行表征。这些技术将使与脊椎动物细胞骨架蛋白的比较成为可能。这些实验还将为原生动物细胞结构的形成和调节的细胞研究奠定基础。这项工作有可能导致对细胞骨架结构-功能关系的基本原理的重大洞察。

The long term objective in the proposed studies is to learn more about the cytoskeletal elements associated with the cell membrane in eukaryotic cells, with particular reference to discovering the molecular basis for regional differentiation within and associated with such structures. The basic approach will be to study four specific polypeptides which have been identified as core proteins within the membrane skeleton of the ciliated protozooan, Tetrahymena. Though globally distributed, these proteins are concentrated and highly patterned within the oral apparatus. The four polypeptides have been purified, and they will be characterized by antibodies, peptide mapping, in vitro assembly, and microsequencing. These techniques will make possible comparisons with vertebrate cytoskeletal proteins. The experiments will also set the stage for cellular studies on the formation and regulation of cell architecture in protozooans. This work has the potential for leading to significant insight into fundamental principles of cytoskeletal structure-function relationships.